First the basics … this is how MLS players, club leadership, and media members voted for the league’s top 11 players in 2013:

Goalkeeper – Donovan Ricketts (Portland Timbers)

Defender – Matt Besler (Sporting Kansas City)

Defender – Jose Goncalves (New England Revolution)

Defender – Omar Gonzalez (LA Galaxy)

Midfielder – Tim Cahill (New York Red Bulls)

Midfielder – Will Johnson (Portland Timbers)

Midfielder – Diego Valeri (Portland Timbers)

Midfielder – Graham Zusi (Sporting Kansas City)

Forward – Marco Di Vaio (Montreal Impact)

Forward – Robbie Keane (LA Galaxy)

Forward – Mike Magee (Chicago Fire)

The one who shouldn’t be there: Donovan Ricketts reminded us in 2013 that big, flashy, flying saves will get you a bunch of attention. And there were some jaw-dropping and praise-worthy moments. But the less glamorous stuff, the precise footwork, the business of not leaving rebounds in bad places, the providing of information to defenders … it’s all important, too. And for me, Ricketts wasn’t always good enough in these more mundane matters. Ricketts was a good goalkeeper in 2013 – but hardly the league’s best in my opinion.

And one more who looks a bit questionable: Omar Gonzalez had another good season for the Galaxy. But was it his best season? Hardly. And compared to how dominating he was after coming off injury in 2012, this one suffered by comparison. Perhaps it was the extra strain of international duty, or the distraction of ongoing contract negotiations … but Gonzalez dropped a short notch this go-round.

The math that doesn’t add up: THREE men from Portland Timbers? C’mon. There are 19 clubs, and THREE Timbers find their way to this team? If that’s the case, Portland should have won 24 or 25 games, right?

Johnson is deserving. Ricketts and Valeri … not necessarily.

A couple of snubs: We get reminded (sigh…once again) that holding midfielders are undervalued in MLS. No Osvaldo Alonso or Kyle Beckerman? Hmmmm. Will Johnson is the closest we get to a holding mid, even though he’s really more of a two-way man in Portland’s 4-3-3.

Nothing wrong with Graham Zusi, Diego Valeri or Tim Cahill – but their seasons weren’t any better than the ones had by Alonso (who made a very, very average Seattle defense look better than it really was with so much faithful soldiering as a midfield screener) or Beckerman.